January 16, 2012

Ciao Momo

Like many of you, the first thing I see when I get into my track car is a Momo Mod. 78, it's perfection.

Gampiero "Momo" Moretti has passed away, sadly just before the 50th anniversary of the Rolex Daytona 24 Hour, a race he won in 1998 in a Ferrari 333 SP. He had been invited by the organizers to celebrate the milestone and will be missed by all on pit lane there.

Moretti was born in 1940 and by the early 60s became a supplier for Ferrari, John Surtees first shuffled a MOMO wheel to a championship in his Ferrari 158. The rest, as they say, is history.

An icon in the world of endurance, "gentleman driver" Moretti was a very active in IMSA racing and instrumental in convincing Ferrari to return to sports car competition with the 333 SP program. The program culminated with his win at the Florida classic along with Mauro Baldi, Didier Theys and Arie Luiendyck.
(photos: MOMO and Autosprint) .

I believe MOMO was named for a combination of his name and the track of his childhood, Monza.

Back in the 90s I got to ride in a 333SP that was owned by a North Carolina construction magnate at Charlotte Motor Speedway (Roval). I was only 16 but holy son of a gun was it incredible. The roar of the airbox and strength of the brakes. Wow! Imagine having a 333SP track toy!